Oscar Onley’s transfer from Picnic PostNL to INEOS Grenadiers is imminent. Daniel Benson reports that the deal could be finalized “within 24 to 48 hours,” but both parties have yet to reach an agreement. Onley still has two years left on his contract with Picnic PostNL, So the Dutch team wants to receive a payment.
Since there is no release clause in Onley’s current contract, INEOS Grenadiers must pay a buyout fee to Picnic PostNL. The cycling journalist reports, based on multiple sources, that the amount is in the ‘millions of euros,’ which is far higher than what Onley has earned in salary over the past two seasons.
Our reporter Youri IJnsen has also heard this. “The amount we hear being discussed is a buyout of seven million euros. There will always be some negotiation, but that’s a huge sum of money,” he explains in the new WielerFlits Podcast. “Normally, you look at the contract’s value, and it’s quite unlikely that it will be seven million,” adds editor-in-chief Maxim Horssels.
Picnic PostNL could certainly use a buyout fee for Onley, as Iwan Spekenbrink’s team is struggling with financial issues. The UCI licensing committee has therefore decided to limit the duration of their WorldTour license to one year and has set conditions regarding the financial criteria that must be met to allow an extension for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
Onley following Vingegaard en Pogacar in the Tour - Photo: Fotopersburo Cor Vos
If the financial situation does not comply with UCI regulations, the team could lose its license for 2027 and 2028 seasons. All teams applying for a WorldTeam license are evaluated on five different criteria. Besides the financial aspect, the UCI licensing committee also assesses the following: ethical, financial, administrative, organizational, and sporting aspects.
Onley is highly sought after on the transfer market following his fourth place in the overall classification of the Tour de France. He contended for a podium spot until the final stages and was consistently among the top stage racers in the peloton throughout the year. He also finished fourth in both the Tour Down Under and Tour of Britain, fifth in the UAE Tour, and third in the Tour of Switzerland, where he also won a stage.
